Shuttle mechanism



Oct. 20, 1959 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 F.` DE BUIGNE vSHUTTLE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvg/vraie FRA/v?? 0e Ewa/va Hom J 5m/DAN ,4 fr0/MEMS Oct. 20, 1959 F. DE BUIGNE 2,909,265

SHUTTLE MECANISM Filed Oct. 14, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E /54 ELE-..5

Vl m il-u l sus l 5TM smal Isn. zj [51ml K0 775 d 5MM/@Avvr Oct. 20, 1959 F. DE BUIGNE 2,909,265

SHUTTLE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 14, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N VEN TO R FMA/K 0f 5am/vf H0 m 4 Hm/DAN Oct. 20, 1959 Filed Oct. 14. 1957 D (Fo RWARD) F. DE BUIGNE SHUTTLE MECHANISM A 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 20, 1959l F. DE BUIGNE 2,909,265

SHUTTLE MECHANISM Filed oct. 14, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 5 Kom SHfR/DA/v A TTORNEVS4 United States Patent i The present invention relates to improvements lin' an" automatic material handling `or` shuttle mechanism* for transferring parts from one location to another. Such a A'device for moving a-piston throughv a succession of' work stations is` shown and described in `my Patent No. 2,818,963, dated January 7, 1958. The shuttle `mecha nism is referred to generally therein at B.

In this typeof shuttle mechanism, a pair of spacedA substantially parallel shuttlebarsl are used. These' bars have suitable gripping means positioned along their length'so that several work pieces can'be handled at one time. It is desired that the shuttle bars move precisely, and that the direction of movement ofboth bars be aligned and coordinated.

' It is an object of the present invention' to provide an improved shuttle mechanism wherein-any movement ofV the shuttle bars is kept in alignment.

It is a further object of the present invention to providel a simple and effective guiding means'for shuttle bars'` whereby relative movement of the -shuttle bars is maintained under precise aligned directional control.A

It is another object of the present inventionto pro-r vide improved actuating means for moving thefshuttle bars forward and back.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shuttle mechanism yfor handlingparts, which mechanism is simple and efficient in operation.

Other objects `of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification wherein like Vreference charactersv designate corresponding parts in the several views.`

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is'a side elevation partially broken'away `toillustratethe present invention.

Figf2 is a top plan of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational Viewlookingfromf'rightV to left.`

Fig. 4 is an endl elevational view in the opposite di'-v rection.A

Fig.5- is apartial elevational vie'wlof the shuttlebars Fig. 7 is a motiondiagram ofthe Vshuttle baraction.

` Fig. Slis aview showing thek shuttle bar"guide'meohaeV msm;

Fig.` 9 is an` enlarged view of the circled portionindi* Patented lOct. 20, 19591.

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and 'of being practiced or carried out in various ways: Also, it is to be understood that thev phraseology 'or' terminology employed hereinl is for the purpose of de,-v scription and not of limitation.

Referring -to` the drawings, Figs. 5 and 6 disclose a side elevation 'and top View respectively of a pairof shuttle bars 10 and. 12 adapted to move several pistons successively along to the designated workstations.4 The general scheme'of movement of the shuttle bars is demonstrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings wherein:

A. The bars are moved down adjacent the work pieces on the work platforms.

B. The bars are moved toward each other to clamp thev work pieces.

C; The bars are lifted to the raised position.

D. The barsare moved longitudinally forward.

The bars are Vlowered to the work platforms.

Ff' They bars are spread apart Vto release the work pieces.l

G The barsl are' lifted again lto the raised position.

Hf' The bars are moved longitudinally backward and returned to the initial position.

The improved features to which the present application'is directed are the means 'for moving the shuttle bars forward and back, and a guide means for making certain that bothV longitudinal shuttle bars always move inalignment.

Fig; 1 shows a portion of a shuttle mechanism for a piston handling machine similar to that disclosed in my previously identified patent. It is to be understood that the entire machine is notshown so that the points of noveltycan be identified more readily. The portion shown comprises a pair of brackets 14 and 16 in vertical slidable engagementV with the machine frame. A pair of rods 15 and 17 Vare rotatably engaged with said 26 which are lslidably 'disposed on brackets 14 and 16 (Figs. l and 8).

The shuttle'bars 10and 12 are spread apart and closed by actuation" of iiuid cylinder 27 which is coupled with crank arm.29. Crank. arm 29 is coupled with crank arm 31 (Figi l) through a longitudinal rod (not shown).` Thus, movement of the piston in huid cylinder 27 causes rotational movement of the crank arms 29 and 31 and any other crank arms which may be used. This rotational movement ofthe crank arms results in spreading or ,closing the shuttle bars as described inmy prior application. Limit vswitches 33. and 35 provide an electrical interlock. andare engaged by adjustable 'stops 37 and 39 to indicatel when the' motion of jiuid cylinder 27 is completed.

Asshown in Figs. 5 and 6,` clampling means 28 are disposed along the length of the shuttle bars. 1t) and 12 to` effectclairipingoffthe lwork pieceswhen desired. It willbetno'tedf-thatlone` clamping-memberrZSS is somewhat diiferentthanlthef others, and is part ofa shuttle bar `guide lmeans: r This clamping member is shown Vinparticu! lar detail in Fi-gs. 9and`l0" of 'the draw/ings. It includesa base 30 havingu'pright-arms 32 and34. A pair of bear-`A` -ingbliock's 36 andlSS-"areaixed to the uprightarms byI cap screwssuoh-as shown at 40. i l' The wrist pin peg f42-is afliXed'fto thes'huttle bar 10by; meansV ofthe set screw 44.V The basetl of fthe'member' 2 8S'is aixedtoishuttle bar 10 by means of cap screws 46, and the pistonfibodvholders-AS and50 are aiiiXed to the shuttle bar i10- and clampl base 30 by capV screws '52.v 'Iheffwristjpinfpe'g,isfadapted to fit within the-wrist pin holofa pistonandthe pistonbody holdersSl and 5(1) are adapted to engage the piston body at its periphery. A

similar arrangement exists with respect to shuttle bar 12.

It will not noted in Fig. 5 that each work station has an upright post 53 adapted to seat a piston in position at the station. It is important that the piston be lowered into position and raised away from position with accuracy.l It is also important that the wrist pin pegs, suoh as shown at 42, move into and out of engagement with the wrist pin holes in the piston with precision.

`The member 28S is adapted to work in cooperation with a guide plate 54, which .is ailxed to a movable forward and return head 56 (Figs. 1 and 3), to provide a guiding means for the shuttle bars and 12. The shuttle bars are coupled with the head 56 for movement therewith through the members 28S and the guide plate 54. The movable head 56 is disposed on ways 58 and 60 (F-ig. 3). A track member 61 is aixed atop the movable head 56 (Figs. 1 and 1l). This: track member includes a transverse groove 62. An end member such as roller 64 is disposed in the groove 62, and this: roller is rotatably positioned on the free end of a pivotal arm 66. The other end of the arm 66 is aixed to a vertical shaft 68. The shaft 68 is positioned in the top of the machine frame as shown in Fig. l. A pinion gear 70 is positioned intermediate the ends of shaft 68. 'llhis pinion gear meshes with a transversely shiftable gear rack 72. The `gear rack 72 is actuated by a suitable fluid cylinder 73 (Fig. 3). Thus, when the fluid cylinder is actuated, the gear rack 72 will move transversely, and this will rotate thepinion 70 and the shaft 68 to which it is affixed. Rotation of the shaft 68 causes rotation of the pivotal arm 66.

As the pivotal arm 66 is rotated, the roller 64 engages the sidewall of the groove 62, and the movable head 56 is moved either back or forward, depending upon the direction of rotation of the pivotal arm 66. 'Ilhe movement of this mechanism is demonstrated in Fig. l2. The pivotal arm 66 moves through 180 degrees of rotation in either direction as indicated by the arrow Y. This rotary movement is translated into linear movement of head 56 through the distance X. Referring to Fig. 1l, it will be seen that the movable head 56 and the pivotal arm 66 have been moved from the phantom position (which is the rearward position shown in Fig. l) to a forward position farther to the left. The pivotal arm 66 has been rotated clockwise approximately 80 degrees, and this movement has `been translated into forward linear movement of the head 56.

A yoke 74 is aixed to the upper end of shaft 68 (Fig. 2), and this yoke has adjustable contact bosses 176 and 178 thereon. Boss 178 contacts the linger 80 of limit switch 82 when the pivotal arm 66 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 to indicate the motion of the fluid cylinder 73 is complete. When the pivotal arm 66 rotates 180 degrees, the finger 84 of limit switch 86 is contacted by boss 176. Adjustable stops 88 and 90 are also provided to limit the rotational movement of pivotal arm 66.

Since guide plate 54 is affixed to the movable head 56, it also moves back or forward longitudinally as the head is moved by rotary movement of pivotal arm 66. The member 28S acts as a guide follower and engages the guide member or plate 54 constantly. Thus the member 28S moves with the head 56. The phantom position of the member 28S in Fig. l shows the left position of the same after the pivotal arm 66 has rotated through 180 degrees from its starting position. The member 28S' is also shown in the raised position at this point. Raising of the member 28S and the accompanying shuttle bars 10 and 12 is accomplished through torsion rod 18. Tlhis mechanism is explained fully in my Patent No. 2,818,963 and it is not again explained in detail here. The torsion rod 18 is rotated by a iluid cylinder 108 through arack and pinion arrangement, and this rotational movement of the torsion rod is transferred through links 76 and 78, which are in engagement with ears v77 on brackets 14 and 16 (Figs. 1 and 4), into vertical lifting and lowering movement of the shuttle bars and accompanying mechamsm.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an improved shuttle mechanism has been provided which includes a novel arrangement having the pivotal arm 66 and the movable head 56 for moving the shuttle bars forward and back. Since the movement Y (Fig. 12) is circular, the linear movement is fastest at the degree position and slowest at both end positions. Thus, the linear movement of the shuttle bars decelerates toward both end positions and the shuttle bars do not halt abruptly. This reduces wear and provides longer life in the mechanism.

The member 28S being in constant engagement with plate 54, all movements of the shuttle lbars are kept in alignment. The wrist pin pegs will precisely engage and disengage the wrist pin holes in the pistons. The pistons will `be properly seated on and lifted from the seating posts at the work stations, and shuttling will be accomplished in -a smooth and eicient manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device for shuttling a workpiece along a row of progressive work stations, including a pair of parallel shuttle bars having clamping means positioned thereon, theV improvement which comprises actuating means for movement of said shuttle bars in a longitudinal direction; a guide plate intermediate said shuttle bars and said actuating means; a pair of transversely aligned, bifurcated `shuttle bar guides, one disposed on each of the shuttle bars; each of said shuttle bar guides having bearing surfaces thereon to engage both surfaces of said guide plate.

2. In a device for shuttling a workpiece along a row of progressive work stations, including a pair of parallel shuttle bars having clamping means positioned thereon, the improvement which comprises actuating means for movement of said shuttle bars in a longitudinal direction; a movable arm on said actuating means; coupling means intermediate said actuating means and said shuttle bars; a transverse track on said coupling means; one end of said movable arm in engagement with said track on said coupling means; rotational movement of said arm causing longitudinal movement of said shuttle bars; and means for rotating said arm degrees in two directions.

3. In a device for shuttling a workpiece along a row of progressive work stations, including a pair of parallel shuttle bars having clamping means positioned thereon, the improvement which comprises actuating means for movement of said shuttle bars in a longitudinal direction; a movable arm on said actuating means; a guide plate intermediate said shuttle bars and said actuating means; a pair of transversely aligned, bifurcated shuttle bar guides, one disposed on each of the shuttle bars; each of said shuttle bar guides having bearing surfaces thereon to engage both surfaces of said guide plate; coupling means intermediate said actuating means and said shuttle bars; a transverse track on said coupling means; one end of said movable arm in engagement with said track on said coupling means; rotational movement of said arm causing longitudinal movement of said shuttle bars; and means for rotating said arm 180 degrees in two directions.

4. In a device for shuttling a workpiece along a row of progressive work stations, including a pair of parallel shuttle bars having clamping means positioned thereon, the improvement which comprises actuating means for movement of said shuttle bars in a longitudinal direction; a guide plate intermediate said shuttle bars and said actuating means; a pair of transversely aligned, bifurcated shuttle bar guides, one disposed on each of the shuttle bars; each of said shuttle bar guides having replaceable bearing surfaces thereon to engage both surfaces of said guide plate.

5. In a device for shuttling a workpiece along a row of progressive work stations, including a pair of parallel shuttlebars having clamping means positioned thereon, the improvement which comprises actuating means for movement of said shuttle bars in a longitudinal direction; a guide member affixed to 'said actuating means; a guide follower slideably engaged with said guide plate; movement of said actuating means moving said guide member and said follower in uniform relationship.

6. In a device for shuttling a workpiece along a row of progressive work stations, including a pair of parallel shuttle bars having clamping means positioned thereon,

parallel shuttle bars having clamping means thereon, and wherein the shuttle bars are disposed in longitudinally sliding engagement on supports which supports are movable vertically to raise and lower the shuttle bars and are spreadable transversely to move the shuttle bars to and from a clamping position, the improvement which comprises a longitudinally movable head; a guide plate aixed to said movable head; a pair of transversely aligned, biurcated shuttle bar guides, one disposed on each of the shuttle bars; each of said shuttle bar guides having replaceable bearing surfaces which engage both sides of said guide plate; movement of said head causing longitudinal movement of said shuttle bars.

Ray Feb. 19, 1946 DeBuigne Jan. 7, 1958 

